A student information system (SIS) is a software application for educational establishments to manage student data. Student information systems provide capabilities for entering student test and other assessment scores, building student schedules, tracking student attendance, and managing many other student-related data needs in a school, college or university. Also known as student information management system (SIMS, SIM), student records system (SRS) or student management system (SMS). These systems vary in size, scope and capability, from packages that are implemented in relatively small organisations to cover student records alone, to enterprise-wide solutions that aim to cover most aspects of running large multi-campus organisations with significant local responsibility. Many systems can be scaled to different levels of activity, and can be configured by their home institutions to meet local needs. The common functions of a student records system are to support the maintaenance of personal and study information relating to:
- Handling enquiries from prospective students;
- Handling the admissions process;
- Enrolling new students and storing teaching option choices;
- Handling examinations, assessments, marks and grades and academic progression;
- Maintaining records of absences and attendance;
- Handling the award of credit or qualifications, graduation, and post-graduation contact with alumni.
In larger enterprise solutions that have student data at their core, further functions in finance, human resources, estates management and more may be catered for by the software. Where national or government systems exist for student finance or statistical return purposes, student records system often provide functionality that caters for this, by way of modules or core elements that handle the production of required files, or deal with the formatted transfer of information. Examples are the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process in the United States, the United Kingdom's Student Loans Company processes (SSAR, SSAC and ATFEE file processing), the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) in the United Kingdom, or the HESA and HESES student statistical returns in the United Kingdom. In the past, universities in particular have created their own bespoke student record systems, but with growing complexity in the business of educational establishments, many organisations now choose to buy customisable off-the-shelf software. Modern student information systems are usually server-based, with the application residing on a central computer server, and being accessed by client applications at various places within and even outside the school. Since the late 1990s, student information systems have been moving to the web. Some are entirely web-based (data entry and viewing), whereas others only allow viewing on the web of some information.
